Highway lighting fixture



July v, 1931. C, A. B. H 'ALVQRSON 1,813,806`

IIIIGHWAY LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed May 29. 1929 Immun/V" 11m/enter: Cra-mwen IaIVOPSOI-I, ME by ocad .-l\\\\ Hi8 Attormgy..

Patented July 7, 1931 GROMWELL A. B. HALVORSON, OF LYNN,

PATENT OFFICE.Y

MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK HIGHWAY LIGHTNG FIXTURE Application iiled May 29,

My invention relates to street lighting units. More particularly it relates to units of the above character especially adapted for use in a high voltage series circuit.

Tt is customary to cap street light units of the above character with high voltage insulators, the top of the insulator being provided for example with a cap in the form of a metal element terminating in an eyelet, which eyelet is hinged on a pin which forms part ofastationary supporting element for the whole unit. It has been 'customary to locate the terminals for a lamp of this character one on either side of the insulator element a considerable distance below the top thereof, that is, a considerable distance below the axis of thehinge formed by the eyelet and the stationary support. To these terminals the connecting leads are secured, which leads extend from the nearest cross arm to the said terminals. With this arrangement the pull of the leads throws the axis of the lamp on a slant, the unit being rotated about the said axis. This method of connecting the lamp and the leads is objectionable for several reasons; for example, it displaces the light distribution and `gives the unit an awkward appearance. Y

In an effort to avoid these conditions a cross arm is sometimes inserted between the unit and the point of support but this has the objection that the unit is substantially lengthened, which in some localities inter-V feres with traiiic. This is inevitable inasmuch as it isV not always convenient or practical to raise the point of support which has been previously installed. Therefore, as a replacement unit such an arrangement is impractical. Y

Also such construction calls for two more insulators on the ends of the arm; these insulators must be just as efective as the insulator element of the unit which represents a' considerable increase in cost.

It is an object of my invention to provide a street lighting unit free from any of the foregoing objections. It is an object to provide a street lighting unit with so-called spreader-arms which take the place of the 1929. Serial No. 366,981.

cross arm and insulators which are sometimes interposed between the unit and the pointv of supportvas above indicated. The base of these arms rests upon the insulator element of the unit and extend upward, the upper terminals of these arms falling in line valong the axis through the eyelet, the terminals and the eyelet having therefore a common axis. I find that with this' arrangement the leads may be secured to the upper terminals of the spreader arms at points along this axis. Under the circumstances the pull on the unit does not tend to throw the unit out of alignment. It is the object of the invention to provide spreader arms of such construction that they may be readilyfsecured to the unit without making any changes in the unit and with very little eifort.

The `invention will be more readily understood from the following specification, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 of which shows the street lightingunitof the invention in perspective. Fig. 2 shows a section through the casing with the spreaderv arms removed.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the unit comprises an insulator in the form of a casing element 2, which is preferably madeof porcelain. This container is provided with a skirt 3, which serves the purpose of shielding the line terminals below and which 'also serves to increase the length of the surface of the insulator. This is desirable in connection with insulators for use in connection with high'potential circuits in order to reduce the length of the insulator. Just below4 the skirt there are `provided/binding posts t and 5, one on either side Lof `the container serving as terminals'for receiving the ends of the leads from the nearest cross arm. These binding posts are in threaded engagement with metal vstrips 6 and 7 inside the container. The unit is also provided with a metal cap 14C on top ofthe container, which is secured to the latter in any suitable manner as for yexample by means of screws 10, as indicated. The cap 14 may be secured to any 'suitable support. For this `purpose the cap is provided with threads 16 for receiving the shank, for example, of an eyelet bolt S. rlhe reliector 17 of the unit is secured to the lower end of the insulator. On the out- 5 side of the insulator near the lower end l. provide a metalband 18 which is provided with threaded holes through which and through corresponding .holes in the container, screws 9 project to engage and hold the reflector in place. The metal strips 6 and 7 in the container are provided each respectively with springs 19 and 20, each of which latter is electrically secured to its corresponding strip. The lamp socket 21 is also provided for the lamp 24, which socket has spring terminals 22 and 23 for engaging the corresponding springs 19 and 20 in the container, when the socket is inserted in position, as shown in the drawings. When the socket is in position the ,springs 19 and 2O are separated and the lamp 24 is inserted in series between these terminals. When the socket is removed, however, the springs 19 and 2O engage, thereby shortcircuiting the unit. .4in element of insulating material 25 is interposed Lbetween springs 22 and 23 when the socket is in position, which breaks down in the event that the lamp burns out and shuts out the unit.

The unit may be supported in place in any suitable manner. For example, a cable 30 may be stretched between two posts and a clamp Ysecured to the cable between the two terminals of the latter. This clamp, as shown in the drawing, comprises the elements 31 and 32 which are bolted together, the arms 33 and 34 of which form a bifurcated structure through which a pin 35 extends. This pin entends through theeye- 0 let bolt 3 and operates as a hinge about which the unit may swing. Y The spreader. element comprises arms 36 and 37, the lower terminals of which fan out into curved bands 33 and 39 that are adapted to lit the outside of the insulator, as shown. These arms 36 and 37 are bolted together by means of bolts only. Only one of these bolts 40 is shown. The arms 36 and 37 entend upward and each terminates in an eyelet 41 and 42, respectively, the axis of which eyelets coincide with' the axis of the pin 35 that supports the unit. These eyelets, as indicated, receive the leads 43 and 44 through which the current is carried to the lamp 24 by way of the terminals 4 and 5. The arms 36 and 37 are hollow. Leads 43 and 44 are locked to the arms 36 and 37 by being suitably twisted, as shown, and pass down through the interior of the arms 36 and 37 to the terminals 4 and 5. Y

It will be seen that the arms 36 and 37 may be readily and effectively secured to the insulator or" the unit without the necessity of even removing theV unit 'from its hang- '65 ing position. lt is also unnecessary to add any insulators to these arms inasmuch as, since they are mounted on the insulator below the skirt 3 and in the region of the terminals 4 and 5, adequate insulation between the arms 36 and 37 and the cable 30 is provided.

lt will be seen, therefore, that by my invention l provide an electric device such as a lamp mounted with its center of gravity below the point'of support and provided with arms or other means secured to the device below the horizontal plane through the point oi support and extending upward A to the region of said plane, the arms being so formed in the region of said plane that electric lines leading to the lamp from a distant point, such as a cross arm, may be secured to said arms in the region of said plane whereby extensions of such lines may be carried to the terminals of the lamp. ll ith the construction thus described obviously the objections heretofore indicated are substantially overcome.

lt will be understood that while I have elected to disclose my invention by referring to the particular form of device shown in the drawings, l do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, inasmuch as l contemplate variations or modifications whichv fall within the scope of the claims contained therein and which do not depart Jfrom the spirit Yol: the invention.

lWhat l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. rlhe combination with an electric light unit which is hingedly hung from a sup port, said unit having a body Jformed of insulating material of means for supporting the line conductors therefor, said means comprising L-shaped holders adapted to be mounted, one at each side of said housing, co-acting clamping means carried by the horizontal portions of said holders, adapted to engage the body of said housing at its center, and clamp it between them, the vertical portions of said holders having their free ends spaced apart and in alignment with the horizontal axis of said hinged support.

2. Supporting and guiding means for the line conductors `for an electric light unit comprising L-shaped arms each having a horizontal and a vertical portion, the horizontal portions being bifurcated and having their bifurcated members spread apart, curved plates connecting the bifurcated members of each arm and provided with clamping means which co-act to clamp the arms to the unit, said vertical portions being hollow for the passage ol the conductors.

3. In combination, an electric light unit having a housing composed of an insulating material, means for supporting said housing and unit, comprising a member hingedly attached to the top of said unit and adapted '.ij."

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to be secured to a fixed support, line conductors, associated With said unit and adapted to be connected to binding posts extending laterally through said housing, means for supporting said line conductors, comprising hollow L-shaped arms through which the conductors pass attached to said housing at a point below the point of support and approximately at the center of said housing, the horizontal portions of said arms being bifurcated and spread apart, said bifurcated portions of each arm being connected by a plate having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the housing, said curved plates being provided With means for clamping them about the outer surface of the housing, the vertical portions of said arlns extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the unit and having their free ends formed with eyeholes through which the line conductors pass, said eyeholes being in alignment With the horizontal axis of said hinged supporting member.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this tvventy-th day of May, 1929.

OROMWELL A. B. HALVORSON. 

